A Beautiful Mind: May is Mental Health Month

Healthcare professionals and organizations devoted to helping those with mental illness issues have long used May as Mental Health Month – a time to raise awareness, educate the public and reduce the stigma associated with these conditions. In 2013, The White House decreed May National Mental Health Awareness Month and brought even more attention to conditions that tens of millions of Americans deal with on a daily basis.

There are very few people who aren’t familiar with frustration, worry or exhaustion. Dealing with the difficulties of day-to-day to life is part of being human, and doesn’t necessarily mean an individual coping with tension is mentally ill.

A person with optimal mental health is defined as someone who realizes their abilities, can work productively, make a contribution to their community and cope with normal stresses of life.

Approximately 42.5 million adults in the U.S. live with, or have experienced some form of mental illness in the last year. Some experts argue that this number is actually conservative. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 26 percent of the population is affected by mental illness.

Dr. Peter Delaney, director of the government’s Center For Behavioral Health and Statistics and Quality addressed the issue of differing statistics. In an interview with Newsweek, Dr. Delany said, “These are real people that have very serious problems. The data should be helping us think through how we want to approach helping them get the services they need.”

While the phrase “mental illness” seems to imply one single disorder, there are in fact a variety of different conditions.

What are the Most Common Mental Health Issues?

Depression

Bipolar Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Schizophrenia

Panic Attacks

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

It’s widely believed that a combination of genetics, neurochemistry, psychological, and social characteristics are what lead to mental illness. These are complex issues, however, and the root of a person’s illness can sometimes be difficult to determine. Regardless of the cause, poor mental health can be extremely painful, both emotionally and physically. In many cases, victim’s lives are devastated.

Effective treatment exists for virtually all mental health concerns once they’re diagnosed. Pairing psychotherapy and the appropriate medication can vastly improve a person’s life. Unfortunately, 60 percent of adults with a diagnosable mental illness do not receive the treatment they need, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. View the Mental Illness Fact Sheet (PDF)

Who has Mental Health Issues?

An estimated 20 percent of youths, ages 13 to 18, experience a severe mental disorder in a given year

Approximately 2.4 million adults live with schizophrenia

About 9.2 million people meet the conditions for a dual-diagnosis, which is the presence of a mental and addiction disorder together

It’s believed that 46 percent of the homeless population live with severe mental illness

Research has shown that at least 20 percent of prison inmates have a history of mental disorders

During the month of May, take the opportunity to learn more about the signs of mental illness and the available resources for those who are suffering. Visit both local and state websites that provide information on mental health treatment facilities, programs and events. After all, a person who reaches out and helps anyone in need is improving their own mental health.